Medical and Hospital errors kill more people than vehicle accidents, pneumonia, and diabetes combined.
Without a doubt, this is a stunning figure. If you have been a victim of a medical error contact an experienced Connecticut medical malpractice lawyer. Before we get into what you can do about it, let’s go over the top ten mistakes that can happen during your hospital stay:
- Wrong diagnosis of the disease
Diagnostic errors are the most common sort of medical error. Diagnostic errors are unsurprising, given that the correct diagnosis is the key to avoiding your complete medical blunder. Unfortunately, a misdiagnosis can cause treatment to be delayed, which can have fatal effects.
It’s also risky to go without a diagnosis; this is why it’s critical to figure out what you have rather than just a list of things you don’t have.
- Unnecessary treatment
After her then-healthy 22-year-old son endured brain surgery that left him mostly paralysed and unable to communicate, patient advocate Patty Skolnik created Citizens for Patient Safety. He fought for his life for two years before succumbing to various infections.
His experience is heartbreaking, especially considering that his surgery was never necessary in the first place. Unfortunately, like Michael, thousands of people are subjected to unneeded therapy that leads to death.
- Breathtaking procedures
According to studies, $700 billion is spent annually on unnecessary tests and treatments. Procedures are not only pricey, but they can also be fatal. For example, CT scans raise your cancer risk over time, and the dyes used in CT and MRI scans can lead to renal failure.
Infection can arise from even a simple blood draw; hence, it is not to argue that you should never have a test done; instead, you should be aware of the risks and constantly inquire why an examination or treatment is required.
- Misdirected medicines
During their stay in the hospital, more than 60% of patients forget to take their usual medication. As a result, 6.8 drugs go to waste on average per patient. In addition, patients take incorrect prescriptions; according to a 2006 Institute of Medicine research, medication errors hurt 1.5 million Americans each year, costing $3.5 billion.
- Surgical errors
Almost everyone has heard of a surgeon operating on the wrong limb or patient. But, unfortunately, there are more terrifying tales to be told. For example, food designed for stomach tubes ends up in chest tubes, causing severe infections. Likewise, air bubbles cause strokes in IV catheters.
After surgery, people’s bodies have sponges, wipes, and even scissors. These are all “never events,” meaning they should never happen, but they do, frequently with fatal results.
- Inappropriate care
The concept of having “your” doctor is becoming a relic of the past in our changing healthcare system. If you go to the hospital, you may not be seen by your regular doctor but by the doctor on call. Several professionals will most likely be there, scribbling notes in charts but rarely coordinating with one another.
You may get two of the same tests or medications that are incompatible. There could be a misunderstanding or medical error due to a lack of coordination between your doctor and nurse.
- Infections
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hospital-acquired illnesses afflict 1.7 million individuals each year. Infections surrounding the surgical site, urinary infections from catheters, and bloodstream infections from IVs are all examples.
These infections frequently involve bacteria resistant to a wide range of antibiotics. They can be lethal (the CDC estimates that over 100,000 people die each year due to them), particularly those with weaker immune systems.
- Accidental accidents
Five hundred thousand patients fall per year while in the hospital. In addition, many “accidents” occur due to medical gadgets that aren’t working correctly. For example, pacemaker wires break, defibrillators don’t shock, and hip implants quit operating.
- Neglected warning signs
When patients get sicker, there is usually a warning period that lasts anywhere from minutes to hours. After that, you may feel worse, and your heart rate, blood pressure, and other readings may alter. Unfortunately, you overlook warning indicators, resulting in severe damage.
- Sending the patient home earlier
According to studies, one out of every five Medicare patients returns to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. It could be because patients go before they are ready, without comprehending their discharge information, without proper follow-up, or because their care has become complicated.
The journey from the hospital to your house is one of the most vulnerable times, and misunderstandings and misunderstandings can also kill you once you’ve returned home.
Contact an expert hospital malpractice lawyer today if you have been in such a situation.